Teenagers went to sea in toy boat
Swansea Coastguard issued a stern warning today after two teenagers were rescued after an adventure in a toy dinghy out at sea last night.
A boy of 16 and a girl of 17 from Chippenham travelled to Weston Super Mare by train and bought a toy inflatable for 5.99 pence, then put out to sea. They were inadequately dressed and did not carry life saving equipment except a mobile telephone.
After putting out to sea they were blown off shore by a light wind, which then took them back in towards the coast and they landed at Brean Down. They then followed the course of the River Axe on foot and became lost and disorientated. Eventually they called for help from the police.
Swansea Coastguard called out the Weston Super Mare and Burnham on Sea Coastguard rescue teams to search for the pair. Swansea Coastguard were able to use telephone technology in the operations room and put the girl on her mobile phone in a tele-connect call to the Coastguards looking for them.
The pair were picked up, cold and dirty, but otherwise none the worse for their ordeal. They did not need medical attention but were offered appropriate advice, The coastguards dropped them at Weston Super Mare railway station for their return journey to Chippenham.
Bob Peel, watch manager of Swansea Coastguard said: "We would strongly advise anyone thinking of putting to sea in a toy inflatable boat to think again. These toys are not be used for open waters which they are totally unsuitable for.
"They should only be used under supervision by a responsible adult. Hopefully these two teenagers have learnt from their experience and we hope that others take heed of our warnings.
"They were very lucky in this instance as no one knew that they had put to sea, and had they not been blown back into shore, this incident could have had a very different outcome."
News source : http://www.newswales.co.uk